Changing block hoisting system

ABSTRACT

A quick changing divided block hosting system for running pipe into and out of wells being drilled, completed or worked over. A crown block with a multiplicity of lines is positioned in the derrick. A traveling block with a multiplicity of sheave units is connected to the lines from the crown block. Means are provided for selectively attaching the sheave units together and a connection is provided for selectively connecting one or more of the sheaves to the derrick.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,863,898

Brackin Feb. 4, 1975 CHANGING BLOCK HOISTING SYSTEM FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS lnvenwri Wayne Bmkim Beaumont, Tel 664,863 3/1962 Italy254/188 [73] Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc., Dallas, Tex.

. Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar [22] Filed Sept AssistantExaminer-Kenneth Noland [2]] Appl. No.: 395,466 Attorney, Agent, orFirmEddie E. Scott [52] U.S. Cl. 254/194, 254/]88 ABSTRACT A quickchanging block hosting ystem for Field of Search 3 94, l95. 1961 runningpipe into and out of wells being drilled, com- 254/144, pleted or workedover. A crown block with a multiplicity of lines is positioned in thederrick. A traveling [56] References cued block with a multiplicity ofsheave units is connected UNITED STATES PATENTS to the lines from thecrown block. Means are provided 19,91,751 4/1924 n H 254/188 forselectively attaching the sheave units together and 1,670,215 5/1928Rutland 254/138 'a connection is provided for selectively connecting3,101,928 8/1963 Dyer et al. 254/194 one or more of the sheaves to thederrick. 3.353,?94 ll/l967 Smith 254/192 3,366,366 1/1968 Arthur 254/1922 Chums, 5 Drawmg Flames PAIEHTEDFEH SHEEI 10F 2 FIG.

PATENTED 1863.898

SHEU ESP 2 CHANGING BLOCK HOISTING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an improved system for running pipe.such as drill string and flow tubing. into and out of wells beingdrilled. completed or worked over. The invention particularly relates toa changing block hoisting system.

During the running of drill string or production tubing into a well orthe pulling of such pipe from a well. the pipe sections must be handledin the derrick or rig. The pipe sections are usually moved to one sideof the derrick or rig where they are stacked and this move ment must bein unison with the movement of the traveling block in order not tointerfere with the well operations. Such work requires perfect timingand a great deal of exertion on the part of the crew and the work isquite hazardous.

With the advent ofmodern drilling systems. including automatic drillingsystems. the need for flexibility in handling the pipe has acquiredgreater significance. During some well operations. a substantial liftingforce is required thus requiring the use of multiple sheave units.During other well operations, a lesser number of sheave units or asingle sheave unit may be sufficient. A need. therefore. clearly existsfor a hoisting system that can be easily and quickly changed todifferent numbers of sheave units. The traveling block of moderndrilling systems may be provided with a side opening in order to allowthe pipe to be moved quickly out of the traveling block. It has nowbecome desirable to be able to change the location of the side openingwith respect to the well rig and a need clearly exists for a hoistingsystem that allows the location of the side opening in the travelingblock to be adjusted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART ln U.S. Pat. No. 3,434,696 to W. L.Brackin, patented Mar. 25. 1969, a hook assembly for use with asplit-type traveling block is shown. The traveling block has an openingextending vertically therethrough. The use of hoisting apparatus havingthe axially aligned opening permits the traveling block, hook assemblyand the elevator, which are used to support the pipe string duringmovement thereof into and out ofthe well bore to be moved verticallyrelative to the pipe as the connections are made or broken.

ln U.S. Pat. No. 3.276.749 to W. M. Marks, et al.. patented Oct. 4.I966, a multi-sheave block is shown. A portion of the sheaves of thetraveling block are mounted for lateral movement relative to the centerof gravity of the load they are carrying. When the number of sheaves inservice is increased or decreased, at least a portion of these sheavescan be adjusted laterally as required to maintain the centerline ofsupport of the block in the desired position relative to whatever loadthe block is supporting.

ln U.S. Pat. No. 3.ll,928 to N. D. Dyer. et 21]., patented Aug. 27,I963. a traveling block assembly is shown. The traveling block includesa vertical opening therethrough which is also open at the side of theblock. The traveling block allows the pipe to turn as it is being raisedor lowered into the well without rotating the traveling block.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a quick changingdivided block hoisting system for use in a derrick or rig. A crown blockhaving a multiplicity of lines is positioned in the derrick or rig. Atraveling block positioned below the crown block includes a multiplicityof sheave units connected to the multiplicity of lines from the crownblock. The sheave units are connected by connecting means that willallow the sheave units to be easily and quickly connected ordisconnected. At least one of the sheave units includes an attachmentmeans whereby said sheave unit can be selectively connected to thederrick or rig.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a face elevation of ahoisting system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the wireline arrangement of thehoisting system shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hoisting system shown in FIG. I taken online 33 showing the traveling block.

FIG. 4 is a view of the traveling block shown in FIG. 3 with one sheaveunit removed.

FIG. 5 is a view of the traveling block shown in FIG. 3 with the sheaveunits positioned to change the location of the side opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. I, ahoisting system constructed in accordance withh the present invention isshown. The hoisting system includes a crown block I0 adapted to bepositioned in the support structure SS of a derrick or rig (not shown).The crown block I0 includes a plurality of sheaves respectivelydesignated A. B. C and D (C is not shown in FIG. I) from which there issuspended a traveling block unit I]. A conventional wireline l2 extendsfrom the draw works DW through the crown block 10 and traveling blockunit I] to the dead line DI. that is attached to a portion of thesupport structure SS. An elevator I3 is connected to the traveling blockunit 1] by links 14 and 15. The links 14 and 15 engage the brackets 16and I7 extending from the traveling block unit II. The elevator I3includes movable dogs 18 and I9 movable upon inclined faces 20 and 21 ofa central bowl in the elevator 13. The mow able dogs I8 and 19 will moveto and from a pipe gripping position wherein the section of pipe 22 maybe engaged or released.

The traveling block unit II includes three sheaves designated E, F, andG. respectively. The sheave E is removably connected to the sheave F bya bolt 25 that extends through holes in sheaves E and F and is securedby a nut 26. Sheave G is connected to sheave F by a bolt 27 that fitsthrough holes in sheaves F and G and is secured by a nut 28. Aconnecting bracket 29 extends from sheave F.

Referring to FIG. 2, the threading of the wireline 12 through the crownblock 10 and traveling block unit I] is illustrated. The wireline I2extends from a draw works DW wherein it may be wound or unwound from adrum driven by suitable power means. The line 12 passes over sheave A inthe crown block I0, then downward through sheave E in the travelingblock unit I], thence upward over the sheave C in crown block 10downward to sheave G in traveling block unit II, thence upward oversheave D in crown block 10 downward to sheave F in traveling block unitI], thence upward over sheave B in crown block 10 to the dead line (DL)wherein it is secured to the support structure 55.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a plan view of the hoisting system of FIG. Itaken along the lines 3-3 is shown. As viewed from above. the travelingblock unit 11 includes a central opening 23 for receiving a section ofpipe and a side opening 24 for moving the pipe into and out of the unit11. The wireline l2 passes through the respective sheaves E. F. and G.Sheave E is connected to sheave F by bolt 25 that extends through a holein a connecting bracket extending from sheave E and a hole in connectingbracket 31 attached to sheave F. Sheave G is connected to sheave F bybolt 27 that extends through a hole in a connecting bracket 32 extendingfrom sheave G and a hole in a connecting bracket 31 attached to sheaveF. A hole 33 is located in the opposite end of bracket 30 and a hole 34is located in the opposite end of bracket 32. A connecting bracket 35extends from sheave F on the side opposite from bracket 31. A pair ofholes 36 and 37 are located in bracket 35.

The structural details of a hoisting system constructed in accordancewith the present invention having been described. the operation of thesystem will now be considered. The traveling block unit II that hangsbelow the crown block 10 by means of the various runs of the wireline I2is connected to the pipe 22 by elevator 13. The line 12 is wound upon adrum at the draw works DW thereby pulling the pipe 22 upward. Pipe beingrun into or out of a well may be received in the side opening 24 andcentral opening 23 of the traveling block unit ll or removed at willthrough the same opening. Certain operations do not require the fulllift ing force of the three sheaves E. F, and G in the traveling blockunit 1]. In this instance, one or more of the sheaves. such as sheave F,is disconnected from the other two sheaves E and G by loosening andremoving the nuts 26 and 28 and removing the bolts 25 and 27. The sheaveF is then connected to the derrick or rig (not shown) by the bracket 29.A filler piece 38 shown in FlG. 4 is positioned between sheaves E and Gand bolts 25 and 27 are replaced thereby securing the sheaves E and G asthe operating unit of the traveling block. lt will be appreciated thatthe sheaves E and G could be connected together at right angles or thatthe filler piece 38 could have been connected in holes 33 and 34.

In order to change the location of the side opening 24 relative to thederrick and other equipment, the prior art hoisting systems requiredthat the crown block and traveling block be rethreaded to orient theside opening in a different direction. The hoisting system of thepresent invention may be changed so that the side opening extends inother directions as shown in FIG. 5. Referring to HO. 5. the bolts 25and 27 have been removed from brackets 30. 31, and 32 and the sheave 31has been swung through the central opening 23. The bolts lows:

l. A quick changing divided block hoisting system for use with an oilwell drilling rig to move pipe. comprising:

a crown block included in said rig. said crown block having at leastthree sets of lines;

a traveling block positioned below said crown block with a first sheaveunit connected to one of said sets of lines.

a second sheave unit connected to another of said sets of lines. and

a third sheave unit connected to the other of said sets of lines. saidfirst. second. and third sheave units being positioned on three sides ofsaid pipe;

first connection means on said first sheave unit for selectivelyconnecting said first sheave unit to said second sheave unit at a firstside of said first sheave;

second connection means on said first sheave unit for selectivelyconnecting said first sheave unit to said second sheave unit at a secondside of said first sheave opposite to said first side of said firstsheave.

third connection means on said third sheave unit for selectivelyconnecting said third sheave unit to said second sheave unit at a sideon said third sheave coincedent to said first side; and

fourth connection means on said third sheave unit for selectivelyconnecting said third sheave unit to said second sheave unit at a sideon said third sheave coincedent to said second side.

2. A hoisting apparatus for moving pipe within an oil well derrick. saidhoisting apparatus including a traveling block with a side opening thatmay be changed from admitting the pipe from a first side to admittingthe pipe from a second side. comprising:

a crown block with three sets of lines; and

a traveling block with a first sheave connected to one set of lines.

a second sheave connected to another set of lines.

and a third sheave connected to the other set of lines. said firstsheave having first means for selectively connecting said first sheaveto said second sheave at first side of said first sheave therebyadmitting said pipe from said first side,

said first sheave having second means for selectively connecting saidfirst sheave to said second sheave at a second side of said first sheaveopposite to said first side of said first sheave thereby admitting saidpipe from said second side,

said third sheave having third means for selectively connecting saidthird sheave to said second sheave at a side on said third sheavecoincedent to said first side thereby admitting said pipe from saidfirst side. and

said third sheave having fourth means for selectively connecting saidthird sheave to said second sheave at a side on said third sheavecoincedent to said second side thereby admitting said pipe from saidsecondside.

1. A quick changing divided block hoisting system for use with an oilwell drilling rig to move pipe, comprising: a crown block included insaid rig, said crown block having at least three sets of lines; atraveling block positioned below said crown block with a first sheaveunit connected to one of said sets of lines, a second sheave unitconnected to another of said sets of lines, and a third sheave unitconnected to the other of said sets of lines, said first, second, andthird sheave units being positioned on three sides of said pipe; firstconnection means on said first sheave unit for selectively connectingsaid first sheave unit to said second sheave unit at a first side ofsaid first sheave; second connection means on said first sheave unit forselectively connecting said first sheave unit to said second sheave unitat a second side of said first sheave opposite to said first side ofsaid first sheave, thirD connection means on said third sheave unit forselectively connecting said third sheave unit to said second sheave unitat a side on said third sheave coincedent to said first side; and fourthconnection means on said third sheave unit for selectively connectingsaid third sheave unit to said second sheave unit at a side on saidthird sheave coincedent to said second side.
 2. A hoisting apparatus formoving pipe within an oil well derrick, said hoisting apparatusincluding a traveling block with a side opening that may be changed fromadmitting the pipe from a first side to admitting the pipe from a secondside, comprising: a crown block with three sets of lines; and atraveling block with a first sheave connected to one set of lines, asecond sheave connected to another set of lines, and a third sheaveconnected to the other set of lines, said first sheave having firstmeans for selectively connecting said first sheave to said second sheaveat first side of said first sheave thereby admitting said pipe from saidfirst side, said first sheave having second means for selectivelyconnecting said first sheave to said second sheave at a second side ofsaid first sheave opposite to said first side of said first sheavethereby admitting said pipe from said second side, said third sheavehaving third means for selectively connecting said third sheave to saidsecond sheave at a side on said third sheave coincedent to said firstside thereby admitting said pipe from said first side, and said thirdsheave having fourth means for selectively connecting said third sheaveto said second sheave at a side on said third sheave coincedent to saidsecond side thereby admitting said pipe from said second side.